What wind rating does your shed need to be? Are our farm sheds wind rated for your region?
When building rural sheds it’s important not to overlook environmental factors such as wind speeds, terrain and topography, as these will have an impact on the stability of your structures.
To get this right, you will need to know the wind region you are situated in, as well as its terrain category and other factors.
Read on to learn more about each of these factors and how to ensure your shed is wind rated for your region. And find out if our farm sheds designs are wind rated for your region.
Wind Regions
There are four wind regions in Australia:
- A: This encompasses Australian inland areas and most of the southern coastline, and is usually non-cyclonic.
- B: Also considered non-cyclonic, this region lies within 50km – 100km of the coastline above 30° Latitude. It does not include the southern coast.
- C: A cyclonic region above 25° Latitude and within 50kms of the coast.
- D: A very specific cyclonic area along the west coast of Australia.
While most sheds are likely to be in Region A as this area is so vast, it’s also important to consider other factors when constructing sheds, as outlined below.
Terrain Categories
The terrain of a region impacts the ways in which the wind flows towards and over sheds and buildings. There are several terrain categories in Australia:
- 1: Open and exposed terrain with zero or few obstructions. This category may apply to sheds in very remote areas.
- 2: Open terrain with scattered obstructions that are 1.5m to 10m in height, such as farmland.
- 2.5: Semi-rural areas with some trees and buildings.
- 3: Usually refers to urban areas with numerous obstructions such as buildings and trees.
As you might expect, sheds in the first two categories are likely to be more vulnerable to wind speeds than in the other two.
Topographic Effect & Shielding Factor
The other factors influencing wind ratings are topography and shielding.
The topographic effect refers to the maximum surface slope of the land. The shielding factor refers to the ways in which the various obstructions impact on the building (such as their location and whether they are upwind or downwind).
Wind Ratings
Wind ratings of buildings in Australia range from W28 to W60, and must comply with Australian Standard 1170.2. The impact of wind speeds on your region should be allowed for in the engineering and design of any sheds that you construct on your property.
Are Our Farm Shed Designs Wind Rated For Your Region?
Yes!
Our farm sheds are specifically designed to withstand Australia’s winds and harsh environments and wind rated for your region. We assess every project individually and ensure the sheds we supply meet or exceed the wind ratings required of them.
We hope you have found this article on wind ratings for farm sheds helpful! If you have any other questions about farm shed designs and wind ratings, our building consultants would be happy to help.
Our Learning Hub includes more articles and resources to help you with your farm shed research – check it out here.
